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When would Dr. Manmohan Singh shed his Modi phobia?

Published on 18 May 2014

Image courtesy: PIB

The outgoing Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has been found wanting on many occasions. And he was found wanting too in his last address to the Nation that he delivered on 17th May 2014 before submitting his resignation to the President.

He today avoided mentioning Mr. Narendra Modi, who as Prime Ministerial candidate of BJP brought about a paradigm shift in the Indian polity. He lacked the courage to either acknowledge Mr. Modi’s achievement as a global marvel or to reiterate his outrageous perception about Mr. Modi as prospective Prime Minister.

On 3rd January 2014 at the televised national press conference, Dr. Singh had stated: “I have full confidence that the next Prime Minister will be from the UPA coalition, and that without discussing the merits of Mr. Narendra Modi, it will be disastrous for the country to have Shri Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister.”

Answering a question on BJP’s allegation that he was the weakest PM, Dr. Singh had stated: “I do not believe that I have been a weak Prime Minister. That is for historians to judge. The BJP and its associates may say whatever they like. But if by “strong Prime Minister”, you mean that you preside over a mass massacre of innocent citizens on the streets of Ahmedabad, that is the measure of strength, I do not believe that sort of strength this country needs, least of all, in its Prime Minister.” (http://nareshminocha.com/index.php/polity/1613-pm-should-cast-off-modi-phobia-answer-his-failure-on-federalism)

GDP rankings are a game of estimates: India is simultaneously the world’s 3rd & 8th largest economy

Published on 17 May 2014

Image Courtesy: Congress

“India now world’s 3rd largest economy. Does Shri Modi want to say anything?” The Congress Party ran a release/article under this headline on its website on 30th April, a day after the World Bank (WB) released the summary of the findings of 2011 round of International Comparison Programme (ICP) survey.

The release quoted Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed as saying “Now it has been officially declared that we have displaced Japan to occupy the third position. Mr Modi and his team have been doing a lot of false propaganda against UPA’s achievements. They should now give a statement on this also.”

The release is based on shallow news reports. It has certainly not been prepared after reading the ICP report summary captioned ‘Purchasing Power Parities and Real Expenditures of World Economies’. This reminds one of a quote from Thomas B. Macaulay, a British historian & administrator who laid the foundation for modern education system in India.

Pawar gives credence to Jairam’s charge that Political Sherpas failed to communicate

Published on 10 May 2014

Sharad Pawar Image Courtesy: NCP

The Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar or rather his Ministry has unintentionally substantiated the allegation that UPA top brass did not communicate effectively its achievements and this, in turn, has harmed its electoral prospects.

Before discussing Agriculture Ministry’s belated disclosure that justifies the charge of UPA leadership was uncommunicative, recall what Union Rural Development minister Jairam Ramesh recently stated while bemoaning that top Congress leaders (effectively UPA top brass) were found lacking in political communication.

Mr. Ramesh reportedly told PTI on 4th May: “I always believed that one of the foundations of politics is communication and communication from the very top...by the ‘sherpas’ alone. So, political communication is very, very important but unfortunately we were found lacking.”

Last month, the prime minister's communications adviser, Pankaj Pachauri stated: “The government is working. Its achievements are not reaching you. As for the media, the priorities are different.”

And now consider the proof of UPA sherpas being uncommunicative. Mr. Pawar/Agriculture Ministry sat on two major overseas communications hailing India’s achievements for more than two years. These should have been flaunted as global certification of India’s sterling attainments on the farm front under the UPA Government. The impact of communicating what reputed, independent entities say about the success is far more important than blowing one's own trumpet in the form of UPA's report to the people.